Vonnie Raw (a.k.a. Cogbeetle art)

Art Forms

Printmaking

Biography

At the centre of my work is the lino‑reduction technique; a layered, subtractive approach that mirrors the way time erodes, reveals, and transforms. Each carved layer removes material yet uncovers meaning, creating an image that carries the presence of every stage before it. This process feels like a form of visual archaeology: unearthing the narratives that time leaves behind. Drawing and painting are my tools for thinking. They allow me to map textures, forms, and delicate environmental details, often becoming the quiet foundations from which my prints emerge.

My work is shaped by what is often overlooked:

the spaces between things, the pauses in nature, the soft traces of memory.

Themes in My Work

I’m drawn to unseen stories: the fragments, whispers, and edges of the world, the aspects we almost miss. My work gently asks the viewer to slow down, notice, and follow the subtle thread of a hidden narrative. Time is not a backdrop but an active collaborator. Weathering, erosion, growth and memory are threads woven through every piece I create.

Respect for the natural and historical world is central to my practice. I work with environmentally responsible materials and processes, understanding sustainability not as an obligation but as part of the story.

Sustainability, for me, is storytelling,

a way of acknowledging the future held inside every decision we make.

Artistic journey

My creative path began at school when a remarkable art teacher introduced me to lino printing, a moment that lit a lifelong fire which led me to study Art & Design at Basingstoke College of Technology, and later to a BA (Hons) in Fine Art and non‑European Art History at Birmingham School of Art. I then went on to complete a Masters in Art & Design Education at De Montfort University, followed by a CTLLS adult education teaching qualification.

My career has woven through project management, curriculum design, media production, evaluation, distance and online learning, and adult education – all experiences that enrich my artistic practice and the way I teach workshops today.

Current studio practice

I work from Westbury Arts Centre as a member of its long‑established Artist Collective – a community steeped in history and alive with contemporary creativity. This environment continually inspires my awareness of time, memory, and the untold stories held within our surroundings.

My intention remains to research and create images that preserve the hidden stories of the world around us, and to connect with others through a shared interest in the subject.

What I offer

• Original lino‑reduction prints
• Design for print studies
• Workshops & demonstrations
• Creative collaborations

Get in touch

vonnie@cogbeetle.co.uk
https://www.cogbeetle.co.uk

View all galleries